Many young adults appear to get by with nothing more than a nonstick skillet, a pot of boiling water, and a spoon. A stay-at-home gourmet chef, on the other hand, might have ten different saucepans, three Chinese woks, a slew of cooking pots, and a dozen nonstick frying pans at his or her disposal. When it comes to preparing meals at home, the most important thing to consider when purchasing cookware is your personal interests and skill level. A casual home cook may not require a professional-grade saucepan, whereas a seasoned chef may struggle to achieve the desired results with inferior cookware.
When purchasing cookware, one factor to consider is the manufacturer’s reputation. Certain companies specialize in kitchen cookware, so doing some research online before visiting a kitchen supply store is a good idea. Not all high-end cookware is created with the same level of craftsmanship, and some have unique design features that make them safer to use, store, and clean. For example, some saucepans have an extra handle for easier transportation. Different handle types may provide better heat protection or a better grip. Before going to the store, read reviews from a variety of cooking-related websites.
When purchasing cookware, another factor to consider is the value of a complete set versus individual pieces. Complete sets of nonstick pans or cooking pots are popular gifts for newlyweds and college graduates, but many of these sets are of inferior quality to individual pieces from the same manufacturer. While having three different sizes of saute pans may be convenient, you may want to consider purchasing a single medium-sized pan made of a heavier gauge metal instead. When the need arises, you can always upgrade your cookware.
Many people believe that heavier cookware is always better than lighter cookware, but this is not always true. Because the coating is bonded to aluminum rather than steel, non-stick cookware is often lighter than standard cookware, but its ability to evenly transfer heat is unaffected. Look for signs of solid construction, especially around the handles and the base, when evaluating cookware. The bottoms of high-quality cookware often have specially designed grooves for better heat distribution, and the lids should fit snugly.
When purchasing cookware, storage is also a factor to consider. To save space, many pots and pans should be stacked together, but they still need to be stored. If you don’t have enough cabinet space, consider installing an overhead hanging system for larger pots and pans. While some people require the largest cooking pots available, most people can get by with just one large pot for pasta preparation.
When it comes to cookware, as with many other consumer goods, you often get what you pay for. Cheap pots and pans can be found at discount retail stores, but they are unlikely to last more than a few months under moderate to heavy use. Nonstick pans are widely available, but the coating on less expensive models can quickly wear away. Buying the highest quality cookware you can afford is a good rule of thumb, but only buy what you need.